Yemeni Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik stressed on Monday the need for the Iran-backed Houthi militias to lift their seven-year siege on the Taiz province in line with the UN truce that was announced earlier this month.
The PM held talks with UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen David Gressly in Riyadh.
Their discussions focused on the role UN can play in pressuring the Houthis to end the siege, especially since not enough attention had been focused on his issue.
They also tackled the issue of the eroding Safer oil tanker moored off the coast of Hodeidah for years, reported Yemen's state news agency Saba.
Abdulmalik urged the need for the Houthis to cease using the issue as means for political extortion. He underscored the importance of implementing the recently unveiled UN plan to remove the oil cargo from the vessel and resolve the crisis that is threatening to cause an environment disaster in the Red Sea.
For his part, Gressly praised the support extended by the government to the UN and its role in Yemen, said Yemeni official sources.
He noted the government's complete cooperation in addressing the Safer tanker crisis.
The UN and its agencies are keen on bolstering the partnership with the government on all levels, he added.
Meanwhile, on the ground the military accused the Houthis of continuing to violate the truce on various fronts in the Marib, Hajjah, Hodeidah, Taiz and Dhale provinces.
The army confirmed 72 violations on Saturday, including eleven on the west coast, 10 in Marib, 19 in Taiz and Dhale, 17 in Hajjah, eleven in al-Jawf and four in Raghwan and al-Kassara.
The violations have ranged between artillery fire against the army, infiltration attempts, the amassing of forces, digging of trenches and flying of surveillance drones.
